The consolidation trend in Hollywood continues with the closing of another big merger. The long-gestating acquisition of talent agency ICM Partners by its rival CAA closed today. The deal was
Continue Reading And Then There Were Three: CAA-ICM Merger Closes
After coming perilously close to its first strike since 1945, the below-the-line union IATSE ratified an accord with producers in November, 2021. The new Basic and Videotape Agreements covered most
Continue Reading Animation Guild, Studios Sing in Toon with New Deal
Appropriate for the pirate genre, citing the parties’ “dueling experts,” a District Court recently denied Disney’s motion for summary judgment in a copyright lawsuit in which the plaintiffs claimed the
Continue Reading Yo Ho Ho And a Bottle of . . . Oh No! Court Deep-Sixes Disney’s Motion for Summary Judgment
We are not out of the woods yet.
Just as Hollywood was coping with the early effects of the pandemic, it barely avoided a Writers Guild strike. After a
Continue Reading Gaffers, Grips Going, Gone as IATSE Threatens Walkout
The lawsuit brought by Scarlett Johansson against The Walt Disney Co. has struck Hollywood like a thunderclap. The litigation arises out of Disney’s decision to release Black Widow concurrently in
Continue Reading Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney over “Black Widow” Streaming Release
A group of over 100 feature film producers have announced their intention to form a labor union. The group is led by producer Rebecca Green (“It Follows”), who says the
Continue Reading Film Producers Announce Intention to Unionize–Again
In what must be counted as a victory for solidarity among WGA members and the often controversial tactics of its executive director David Goodman, the leading agency WME reached a
Continue Reading Blessed Peace Descends Upon the Land as WME Settles with WGA
We recently reported on a lawsuit that the actor Faizon Love brought in November against Universal Pictures. Love was one of the stars of the 2009 movie Couples Retreat,
Continue Reading Follow up: Faizon Love, Universal Make Nice
Happy New Year to all. To kick off 2021, I’ve provided quick takes below on some of the bigger stories we’ll be watching
WME v. WGA
Just before Christmas, CAA
Continue Reading Stories to Watch in 2021
The 2009 Universal ensemble comedy Couples Retreat sparked controversy when its Black performers were erased from the film’s international marketing. That controversy has come back to life as the film’s
Continue Reading Universal Faces Racism Charges as Faizon Love Sues over “Couples Retreat” Poster